Spinning top



Jan. 29, 1929.

H. SCHMIDT SPINNING TOP Filed Jan.- 21, 1928 Patented Jan. 29, 1929. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EERMANN sonmrntr, on REINICKENDORF-OST, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, nssrenon 'ro nnns'r PAUL LEHMANN, or BnANDENBUns-on-Tnn-HAvEL, GERMANY.

SPINNING TOP.

Application filed January 21, 1928, Serial-No. 248,434, and in Germany February 26, '1927.

The invention relates to spinning tops of the type in which from the central axis of the rotating body a spindle with a right-hand thread protrudes on one side and a spindle with a left-hand thread protrudes .on the other side. Such tops are spun by applys ing and'quickly removing two nuts.

According to the invention aplate is provided upon at least one of the nuts, the top spinning upon it immediately the two nuts are removed. By means of this plate the top after being spun can be thrown up into the air and caught, so that the game of spinning can be converted into a game of skill.

Furthermore, the nuts may be provided on two levers which are pivotally connectedtogether and which spread out when the top is spun. In this case, one of the levers carries the plate.

The levers may be connected together by resilient means such as a spring, which, after the nuts have been spread out automatically, re-closes them. Such a spinning device may, if'required, be used without the plate.

Finally, the nuts ma have separate handles and a plate may he provided on each of the nuts so as to enable the top to be thrown from one plate to the other while the to is still spinning.

everal forms 0 spinning top according to the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: V

Figure 1 shows one form partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1.

Figure tion. 40 Figure 4 is a. plancorresponding to Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the form according to Fi 'ure 3 showing the nuts and plates removed from the top, while Figure 6 is a plan of one nut and plate.

Figure 7 is a cross-section of a concave spinning plate, and

Figure 8 is a cross-section through aspinning plate having a rim. 1

5o In the form of thelinventiori according to Figures 1 and'2, two levers a and. b are pivoted together at d by means of the part c which projects from the lever 12. The two endspjof thetension springj engage .in ..the

3 is a second'form. shown insecfia'lugse, a, the spring draw ng together the two left hand ends, as seen in the drawing. These ends are provided with angular holes g, 9,, in which engage, or are guided, the parts h, h, of the twisted spindle of the top One end of the twisted spindle is made with a right-hand thread, while the other end is provided with a left-hand thread.

The ends of the levers a, b, form,with their holes, the nuts for the twisted spindle.

\ circular plate 70 is carried by the end of the lever b which end, for example, fits in a sleeve Z on the plate 70 so that the plate can be detached if desired. The sleeve is. fiattened where it is connected to the plate 72, and at this position has a hole m.

The holes 9 and m coincide, but one of them may be slightly lar er than the other to avoid the possibihty o the parts not correctly fitting in mass production. In Figure 1 of the drawings the plate k is shown flat, but it may be concaveas in the form'shown in Figure 7, or be provided with a rim or border,.as in the form shown in Figure 8. Further, it need not be circularit may be of any other shape desired.

To spin the top the right hand ends of the leversa and b as seen in Figures 1 and 2, are held in one hand and are pressed together so as to cause the other ends of the levers to move apart. The top is then inserted between the ends thus opened out so as to bring the ends of the parts 71., k of the twisted spindle respectively over and under the angular holes 9,, g and m.

The levers a "and b are then released,and the spring f draws their left hand ends towards each other. This screws both ends of the twisted spindleinto the holes in the nuts. The several parts are then in the position illustrated in Figure 1. 4

If the right hand ends of the levers a and b are now pressed together smartly, the nuts very uickly move apart, the plate 70 being held own on the lever b. This action sets the top spinning rapidly, and when the part h of the spindle of the top has emerged from the holes 9, m, the top willmove onto the plate is, if the device be held at the correct angle, and the top can be thrown into the air and then caught on the plate.

The spinning top may be allowed to glide off the plate onto the floor and received back again on the plate, the plate being erked forward under the top as it is spinning. Finally, two persons facing each 0t er and each provided with one of the devices or a suitable plate, may pitch the top to and fro.

- 'llhe concave plate k, Figure In the form illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, handles n and 0 are fixed to the plates is, and 70, respectively. Each of these plates has an angular hole ,3), p respectively, so that handles and plates together act as nuts for the parts it, h of the twisted spindle of the top 2'. lil this construction the top is caused to spin by placing the nuts on the spindle and rap idly'removing the upper nut.

The top will then spin upon the underplate 70, and it can be thrown up and caught by the same or a second person by means of the plate 7a,.

7 and the plate Ja -provided with a rim Figure 8 each has a similar handle 0 fixed to it.

I olaim:-

1. A spinning top and means for spinning the same comprising a rotary body having a twisted spindle one part of which projects fromeach side of said body, the said projeoting parts of said spindle having threads of opposite hand, nuts forengagement with said projecting parts of the spindle and a plate on at least one of said nuts and surrounding the hole therein for the purpose of receiving said top when itspins after removal of the nuts from the spindle.

2. Aspinning top and means for spinning the same comprising a rotary body having a twisted spindle one partof which projects from each side of said body, the said projecting parts of said spindle having threads of opposite hand, nuts for enga ement with said projecting parts of the spindle and a plate on one of said nuts and surrounding the hole therein for the purpose. of receiving said top when it spins after removal of 40 the nuts from the spindle, and means connected to said nuts adapted'to be held in the hands for the purposes, hereinbefore set forth.

3. A spinning top and means for spinning the same comprising a rotary body having a twisted spindle one part of which projects from each side of said body, the said projecting parts of said spindle havingthreads of opposite hand, nutsv for engagement with said projecting parts of the spindle and a plate on one of said nuts and surrounding the hole therein for the purpose of receiving said top when it spins after removal of the nuts from the spindle and means connected to said nuts adapted to be held in the hands, said meanscomprisin levers pivotally connected together ant adapted to be operated by the hands, so that the nuts can be moved apart by said levers to spin the top. 1

l. A spinning top and means for spinning the same as claimed in claim 3, including a sleeve on the nut which is provided wi h the plate, said sleeve fitting on one of the levers, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

V 5.-A spinning top and means for spinning the same as claimed in claim 3', including resilient means connecting the two levers for the purpose of automatically drawing the nuts together after they have been moved apart; I

In testimony whereof ll affix my signature.

'nnnnann son uin'r, 

